Systems and methods for determining a communication load

Abstract

A method for determining a communication load for a user including: monitoring at least one communication channel for one or more user activities; detecting at least one user activity related to one or more of a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters including a number of current communication sessions involving the user and an engagement level of the user in a meeting, in which the engagement level is a non-binary value and in which each of the parameters is associated with a weight; calculating, for a subset of the plurality of parameters, the communication load for the user based on the weight associated with each of the parameters within the subset; and automatically updating, based on the communication load, a display of a status indicator for the user by altering an appearance of the status indicator. Also disclosed is a corresponding system for determining a communication load.

1 . A method for determining a communication load for a user, the method comprising:
 monitoring at least one communication channel for one or more user activities;   detecting at least one user activity related to one or more of a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising a number of current communication sessions involving the user and an engagement level of the user in a meeting, wherein the engagement level is a non-binary value and wherein each of the parameters is associated with a weight;   calculating, for a subset of the plurality of parameters, the communication load for the user based on the weight associated with each of the parameters within the subset; and   automatically updating, based on the communication load, a display of a status indicator for the user by altering an appearance of the status indicator, wherein the appearance of the status indicator comprises at least one color associated with the communication load calculated based on the weight associated with each of the parameters within the subset.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user comprises a first user, the method further comprising:
 receiving, from a user device associated with a second user, a request to initiate a new communication session with the first user; and   in response to receiving the request, providing, to the user device associated with the second user, a message regarding the communication load of the first user, wherein the message comprises one or more of an indication of a delay in response and instructions to contact the user via a different messaging channel.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing the communication load of the user to a predetermined threshold; and   when the communication load is at or exceeds the predetermined threshold, declining or queueing a request to initiate a new communication session with the user.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises at least one of a priority of a party involved in at least one of the current communication sessions, a complexity of at least one of the current communication sessions, or a current location of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from at least one wearable device associated with the user, health data related to a current health status of the user, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises information related to one or more physiological parameters extracted from the health data.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an engagement level of the user in a meeting is determined based on one or more of a role of the user in the meeting, a number of active speaking instances by the user, and a number of times the user is mentioned by another participant. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 creating a profile for the user, the profile comprising at least one of a title or a role of the user; and   determining, based on the profile, the subset of the plurality of parameters.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, from the user, instructions to customize the subset of the plurality of parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user comprises one of a plurality of users, the method further comprising:
 generating a report relating to the communication load for the plurality of users over a defined time period.   
     
     
         11 . A system for determining a communication load for a user, the system comprising:
 a processor coupled to memory, wherein the memory includes a program that instructs the processor to perform:
 monitoring at least one communication channel for one or more user activities; 
 detecting at least one user activity related to one or more of a plurality of parameters, the plurality of parameters comprising a number of current communication sessions involving the user and an engagement level of the user in a meeting, wherein the engagement level is a non-binary value and wherein each of the parameters is associated with a weight; 
 calculating, for a subset of the plurality of parameters, the communication load for the user based on the weight associated with each of the parameters within the subset; and 
   automatically updating, based on the communication load, a display of a status indicator for the user by altering an appearance of the status indicator, wherein the appearance of the status indicator comprises at least one color associated with the communication load calculated based on the weight associated with each of the parameters within the subset.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user comprises a first user and wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 receiving, from a user device associated with a second user, a request to initiate a new communication session with the first user; and   in response to receiving the request, providing, to the user device associated with the second user, a message regarding the communication load of the first user, wherein the message comprises one or more of an indication of a delay in response and instructions to contact the user via a different messaging channel.   
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 comparing the communication load of the user to a predetermined threshold; and   when the communication load is at or exceeds the predetermined threshold, declining or queueing a request to initiate a new communication session with the user.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises at least one of a priority of a party involved in at least one of the current communication sessions, a complexity of at least one of the current communication sessions, or a current location of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 receiving, from at least one wearable device associated with the user, health data related to a current health status of the user, wherein the plurality of parameters further comprises one or more physiological parameters extracted from the health data.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein an engagement level of the user in a meeting is determined based on one or more of a role of the user in the meeting, a number of active speaking instances by the user, and a number of times the user is mentioned by another participant. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 creating a profile for the user, the profile comprising at least one of a title or a function of the user; and   determining, based on the profile, the subset of the plurality of parameters.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 receiving, from the user, instructions to customize the subset of the plurality of parameters.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the user comprises one of a plurality of users and wherein the program further instructs the processor to perform:
 generating a report relating to the communication load for the plurality of users over a defined time period.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one color comprises two or more colors and wherein the appearance of the status indicator comprises one of:
 a first solid color in a first portion of the status indicator and a second solid color in a section portion of the status indicator;   a mix of two colors; or   a gradient of two colors.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one color comprises two or more colors and wherein the appearance of the status indicator comprises one of:
 a first solid color in a first portion of the status indicator and a second solid color in a section portion of the status indicator;   a mix of two colors; or   a gradient of two colors.